Method and apparatus for controlling devices in a personal environment using a portable computing device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus, method and system involving running at least one virtual machine on a portable computing device, wherein the virtual machine is operable to communicate with and control at least one device associated with at least one personal environment of a user of the portable computing device e.g. a motor vehicle, a house, an office or the body of the user of the portable computing device. By providing virtual machines dedicated to the control system of specific devices and physical hardware access, security is provided by preventing e.g. hacking and/or malware from entering the virtual machines.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a portable computing device ( 1 ) comprising at least one first virtual machine ( 5 ), wherein the first virtual machine is operable to communicate with and control at least one device ( 2 ) associated with at least one personal environment of a user of the portable computing device.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the computing device is operable to execute a second virtual machine ( 10 ), wherein the second virtual machine ( 10 ) is operable to execute an operating system. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the second virtual machine ( 10 ) is operable to control network connectivity. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a second virtual machine is operable to execute an open operating system and the portable computing device is further operable to execute a third virtual machine operable to control portable computing device own hardware including the network connectivity. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of any of the preceding claims wherein the personal environment includes at least one of a motor vehicle, a house, an office and the body of the user. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first virtual machine is further operable to control the at least one device by executing at least one control system including at least one of an in-vehicle-infotainment system, vehicle locking system, temperature control system, engine control system, heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, lighting control system, audio-visual system, appliances control system, watering system, security system, a system for collecting physiological data and/or controlling physiological activities of the user. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of any of the preceding claims wherein the portable computing device is a mobile phone. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of any of the preceding claims wherein at least one of the devices forms part of the personal environment. 
     
     
         9 . A system comprising:
 a personal environment having at least one device in the personal environment; and the apparatus of any of  claims 1  to  8 .   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the at least one device forms part of the personal environment and comprises at least one of an electronic visual display, loudspeakers, a touchscreen, a heater, an air conditioner, an electronic appliance, device for collecting physiological data of the user, a medical device, an implantable. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising the steps of:
 establishing communication between a portable computing device and at least one device associated with at least one personal environment of a user of the portable computing device; and   controlling the at least one device using a first virtual machine running on the portable computing device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising executing a second virtual machine ( 10 ) on the portable computing device, wherein the second virtual machine ( 10 ) executes an operating system. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising controlling network connectivity with the second virtual machine. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising executing a second virtual machine on the portable computing device, and executing an open operating system on the second virtual machine, and executing a third virtual machine and controlling the hardware of the portable computing device including the network connectivity with the third virtual machine. 
     
     
         15 . The method of any one of  claims 11  to  14  wherein the personal environment includes at least one of a motor vehicle, a house, an office and the body of the user; and wherein the step of controlling preferably includes executing at least one control system including at least one of an in-vehicle-infotainment system, vehicle locking system, temperature control system, engine control system, heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, lighting control system, audio-visual system, appliances control system, watering system, security system, a system for collecting physiological data and/or controlling physiological activities of the user, a medical device, an implantable.